EXCLUSIVE: McDonald's rural roundabout row in Stuston, Suffolk

Views of the new McDonald's sign from the A140/A143. All images: McDonald's/Mid Suffolk District Council

McDonald's is facing opposition after it submitted new plans to move its world famous Golden Arches sign closer to a rural roundabout in Suffolk.

The fast food chain wants to build the 12m illuminated sign, or totem, near the A140/A143 roundabout at Stuston to advertise its planned drive-through restaurant.

The global company has planning permission to build a drive-through and associated buildings alongside the new BP garage and M&S store, which opened on Wednesday and saw more than 1,000 customers in 24 hours.

A previous application for the sign, sited further back in the development, was approved by Mid Suffolk District Council officers in November.

Now, however, the burger chain wants to move the sign closer to the roads which officers have judged "potentially controversial".

Scole, Brome and Oakley parish councils, and Stuston Parish Meeting have objected on grounds the sign is more suited to an urban environment and that the ecology and surrounding landscape will suffer from an illuminated sign of "this size and height".

Concerns have also been raised about the marketing of the development as being at Scole roundabout, which is in neighbouring south Norfolk, and a lack of consultation with residents in the parish, which is the most affected community.